CLRC Writing Center
BASIC SENTENCE STRUCTURE
The two basic parts of any sentence are the subject and the predicate.
SUBJECT
The subject is usually a noun— a word that
names a person, place, or thing—or a noun
phrase. Generally, the subject of a sentence
tells who or what the sentence is about.* The
subject is the noun or noun phrase that is
doing something in the sentence.
PREDICATE
The predicate is a verb—a word that
expresses action, existence (a state of
being), or an occurrence—or a verb
phrase. The predicate usually follows
the subject and tells what the subject
does or what it is like.*
Simple sentences have one subject/verb pair. Verbs must agree with their subjects in number and
person.
SUBJECT
PREDICATE
Marie
runs.
s
v
We
run.
s
v
Even though the subject may be more than one person or thing, and the predicate may contain more
than one verb or action, a sentence will still be a simple sentence if it only has one subject/verb pair.
SUBJECT
Marie and I
PREDICATE
run and win.
Simple sentences may also contain an object. The object is part of the predicate. It is usually a noun that
follows the verb and receives the action of the verb.
SUBJECT
Marie
s
PREDICATE
runs the race.
v
o
This basic pattern is who (or what) does what.
SUBJECT
WHO (S)
Marie
Marie
PREDICATE
DOES (V)
WHAT (O)
runs.
runs
the race.
Simple sentences may also contain modifiers that describe the subject or predicate.
SUBJECT
My sister Marie
PREDICATE
runs the race quickly.
A subject/predicate pair that can stand on its own is an independent clause. A simple sentence consists
of just one independent clause.
CLRC Writing Center
CLARITY: The most common pattern of word order in the English language is SUBJECT-VERB-OBJECT.
When the main characters are the subjects of the verbs, this pattern is clear and easy for most readers
to understand.
A strategy for building clear, simple sentences:
1. Identify the main characters in your sentence (who or what the sentence is about).
2. Make those characters the subject.
3. Build your sentence by putting the subject first, followed by a verb that expresses the action of
the subject, followed by the object (if there is one).
4. Check to make sure your verb(s) agree with your subject(s) in number and person.
Use the space below to practice this strategy.
SUBJECT
WHO (S)
Marie
Marie
PREDICATE
DOES (V)
runs.
runs
WHAT (O)
the race.
Now you are ready to add modifiers and think about combining clauses to make your sentences more
complex. However, to ensure that your sentences are clear, keep the core of your sentence in the form
shown above.
You can also use this as a revision strategy and to check for clarity and correctness in your sentences.
 Have you been told that you have errors in sentence structure or that some of your sentences
are confusing or unclear?
 Try breaking a sentence that you are concerned about into its basic parts (subject and
predicate). If you have more than one subject/verb pair in the sentence, do this for each pair.
 This can help you see how you might reword, rebuild, or rearrange the sentence so that it is
easier for a reader to understand.
 If you do this with a longer sentence, you might find that you have more than one
independent clause or both independent and dependent clauses. When this is the case, your
ideas may be best expressed by using more than one sentence and/or building a complex
sentence. For more information about complex sentences, please see our “Building Complex
Sentences” handout.
*This handout is only an introduction to subjects and verbs, and you should know that a subject can take multiple forms. For
more information, please consult a resource like Joseph Williams’s Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace.